MR. W. C. WALKER M.H.R., AT METHVEN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1548, 5 June 1885, Page 2

MR. W. C. WALKER M.H.R., AT METHVEN

Mr W. C. Walker, M.H.R. for Ashburton, addressed a meeting of his constituents at the schoolhouse, Methven, last evening. There was a fairly good attendance, and Mr Julian Jackson occupied the chair. The Chairman said it was with very much pleasure he acceded to Mr Walker’s request to preside that evening. In reviewing the past, he could not but smile at the contrast presented to the position he now occupied. As they were all aware he, like most other residents in that immediate district, had strenuously opposed Mr Walker’s candidature. However, notwithstanding their opposition, Mr Walker had been returned, and he (the Chairman) felt confident every elector in the constituency was satisfied with their member’s efforts in the interests of the colony in general, and in the welfare of their own district in particular. They would now, he felt sure, recognise Mr Walker as their representative, and accord to him the patient hearing and respectful attention due to his position while ho explained his action in the past and his intentions for the future.

Mr Walker, who was most cordially received and frequently applauded during the course of his address, said it was one of the pleasing duties of their representative in Parliament to meet them during the recess to give an account of his stewardship, and to announce as far as possible the course he proposed to pursue in the future. The pleasure and pride he felt in discharging that duty were considerably enhanced by the very handsome terms in which the Chairman had referred to his past career. It was true that the Chairman had opposed bis candidature, but they were old friends, and like sensible men had not allowed a difference of

political opinion to affect their private regard for one another. Coming more particularly to the business of the evening it would first be his duty to direct their attention to the proceedings of the last session of Parliament. When seeking their suffrage last year, and addressing them in that room, he had said, if returned, he hoped to be able to support a Ministry of which Sir Julius Vogel would be a member. He had added that if Sir Julius Vogel formed a Ministry, Mr Stout would probably be included in the Cabinet. Events.now familiar to them all, and which he need not weary them by reciting, had shown that such a Ministry as he had predicted was the only one acceptable to a majority of the House. He did not propose to refer at any length to the intrigues which occupied the House during the early part of the session; what interested them more was to ascertain whether the present Government attained power by proper professions of good faith, whether those professions had been observed in the past, and whether they would be regarded in the future. The position taken up by Ministers was very clearly set forth in the Governor’s Speech. They said, in effect, that the exigencies of the colony demanded practical and economical legislation, that matters merely theoretical must be left for the present. This broad line of policy he (Mr Walker) thought they had observed, and so long as they continued in the same course he would have no difficulty or hesitation in according to them his cordial support. Of the gentlemen comprising the Ministry, nearly every member of the House bad spoken in terms of the highest personal respect. They had spared neither time nor trouble in making themselves acquainted with the requirements of the colony, and during the recess Ministers had taken exceptional measures to familiarise themselves with the details of their different departments. He hoped, therefore, that in the future Ministers would be able to do even more than they had done in the past, and enunciate a policy, the development of which would be to the lasting benefit of the colony. It was particularly gratifying, to their provincial district at least, that the present Ministry had been able to secure the adherence of nearly all the Canterbury members. He did not wish to advocate the creation of a block vote; in fact, he regarded such a combination as the most vicious machinery for the consummation of political ends; but having regard to the dangers of disintegration, ha could not but congratulate Canterbury upon the unanimity of her representatives. There were but two exceptions to this unanimity, which made its existence even the more remarkable. Mr Bolleston was a Minister ousted from office, and naturally could see nothing good in bis successors; Mr Wakefield, the member for Selwyn, he could only describe as a political Ishmael; but the other Canterbury members had given in their cordial support to the Ministry. Last session Ministers bad {to contend with exceptional disadvantages. Six weeks of the session had elapsed before they were firmly seated upon the Government Benches, and Uiny of their friends told them it was no use to attempt any legislation at that late period, but reo immended they should hasten the passage of the necessary Bills, and postpone their policy measures until the succeeding session of Parliament. Ministers, however, resolved upon a different course and had, he thought, been able to pass some measures of considerable importance and benefit to the country. Mr Walker then proceeded to refer to the District Railways Bill, the West Coast Harbors Bill, the East and West Coasts Railway Bill, the North Island Trunk Line Railway, the Government Insurance Association Bill, and the Beetroot Sugar Bill, repeating in substance the remarks.made in his recent Ashburton address. Referring to the Consolidated Stock Act he said it was devised to set free the Sinking Fund, to relieve the colonial finances of a burden entailed by what was now recognised as an antiquated incident quite unnecessary for a properly conducted system of finance. Some adverse critics of the present Government had remarked upon the liabilities incurred by the colony during last session, but the fact was that the Government measures involved a liability of only £1,500,000, and that loan was chiefly necessary to liquidate liabilities incurred by the previous Government. Money had been borrowed by their predecessors ostensibly for one work and expended upon another. £600,000 specifically borrowed for the construction of new lines of railways had been employed in the maintenance of existing lines. The South Sea Islands Trading Bill was another important measure introduced by Sir Julius Vogel. It was very generally known that the extension of our trade with the South Seas was a prominent feature in the

commercial policy of the Colonial Treasurer, but this Bill was introduced at a period of the session when the House had grown impatient, and as a consequence the measure was thrown out upon the second reading. Still, the Government had prevailed upon Parliament to grant a subsidy to a mail service between the islands and this colony, which he had no doubt would be eminently beneficial in its effects. The Government had made most advantageous arrangements lor a direct mail service between this colony and England, and had also secured a continuance of the San Francisco service on most favorable terms.

Mr Walker briefly referred to the Workmen’s Wages Act and the Married Women’s Property Act, commending their provisions, and concluded his notice of last session by claiming that the present Government, in spite of unusual difficulties, had effected much useful legislation and done much to promote the general welfare of the colony, deferring to the approaching session he said it was of course impossible to predict with certainty what would happen, but they might with confidence look for the development of several questions of importance. First among these would be that of Defence. Last session be bad occasioned an interesting debate in reference to the Volunteers, little thinking at the time that in the course of a few weeks

the question would be occupying so much of thdir attention. What he contended

for then, and what be should demand again was, that the Volunteers should bo placed upon a looting of reality. He thought their recent “ shaking up”—he would not say fright—had placed the question of defence upon a more satisfactory looting than it bad ever been before, and he hoped this satisfactory footing would be maintained. If their Volunteers, and their defence measures were necessary, let them have them in a thorough manner; if they were not necessary there was no need for the colony to play at defence. He believed it would be found that the defence measures of the Government had involved the colony in an expenditure of £500,000, but be hoped they had placed the harbors ol (be colony in a proper condition of defence. He thought the taxpayers should not begrudge the expenditure, it was merely one of the obligations which fell to them as part of a great Empire, it was a species of insurance against the risks of war, and the money had, ho hoped, been expended in a prudent manner, which would meet with the approval of fwliameat. The o( VW |

yet hardly within the region of practice 1 politics; Ministers were really in earnest about the matter, but a majority of the members of the House were singularly apathetic in reference to' it. Until this apathy were removed the question could make but little progress, but recent events had excited their patriotic sympathies, and made them approach their neighbors nearer than they had ever done before. As an act of prudence Federation might be resorted to, but the insular character of this colony rendered the close connection contemplated by the Federal Council Enabling Bill unnecessary. If the Native Land Bill proposed by the Government were fair and reasonable it would have his support. It had been alleged by several speakers that the Native Minister had made numerous promises which the colony and Parliament would certainly not carry out, but from his own acquaintance with Mr Ballance he was not disposed to think ho would commit himself to any unreasonable obligation, and he (Mr Walker) would suspend his judgment upon the matter until he bad heard the Minister in his own defence. Another question of peculiar interest to every part of the colony, and a question which presented peculiar difficulties to the Legislature, was that of Local Government. The circumstances of the different parts of the colony varied so much that it was difficult to devise any scheme which would be acceptable to every part. Shortly after the Counties Act came into force he attended a Conference of County Council Chairmen in Wellington, at which it took them three weeks to find out what other people wanted, althougn from the first each delegate was well acquainted with the requirements of bis own district. The Government were now confronted by the same difficulty, but if they could devise any scheme which would be satisfactory to all concerned, it would be an inestimable benefit. They wanted something permanent; bad legislation was even better than often changed legislation. He would not say the present local government soh|pe was a good one, but they had become accustomed to it, and he would not change it until they were assured of securing a better one. He could not announce what Ministers were going to do, isolated proposals had been referred to by members of the Cabinet, but the complete Ministerial scheme had not been divulged. One thing absolutely necessary was to clearly define the functions of Boad Boards and of County Councils. If both were to exist, no doubt should be left as to the functions of each body. He would make the Boad Boards the unit or the commencement of all governing bodies; the counties should be a collection of so many Boad Boards. He though there was no better form of local government than by Boad Boards and County Councils, the latter composed of the Chairmen of the former ; the Boad Boards to attend to road works pure and simple, and the Council to do other county work. Some politicians still hankered after the old provincial system; they hoped by making the counties larger to convert them into provinces. He was better satisfied as they were, for he could recollect what happened to districts like Ashburton in the old provincial days, an experience he would not like to see renewed. Some people regretted the abolition of the provinces, but he had done all in his power to bring about the change, which he had never regretted, and with his experience of to-day would do so again. Counties should not be too large, as one of the chief advantages of the county system was the local character it gave to their government, they were in daily intercourse with the people by whom they were governed. The only need for large districts was in connection with Hospital and Charitable Aid. He believed that for this purpose it was the intention of the Government to make a collection of counties assimilating somewhat to the old provincial districts. The sick and needy from outlying districts naturally gravitated to towns where institutions affording relief were to be found. As regarded the finance of local government it had been hinted that a return would be made to the system of subsidies. He could see nothing objectionable in that system, but the great thing to obtain was permanency—to avoid frequent changes. Possibly the Property Tax, or the Land Tax, whichever they were to have, would be handed to the local body. The present Government had always laid great stress upon the creation of colonial industries. The present Minister of Mines was the first holder of that portfolio, and since his appointment he had been actively engaged inspecting the mines of the colony, and initiating steps lor the advancement of the industry which could not fail to be of material benefit to the colony. This part of the colony, and indeed every grain-growing country of the world, was suffering from a great depression in the value of cereals. Anything to relieve this depression should be encouraged. He noticed from the agricultural statistics of the colony just published that the area of wheat harvested last year was only 159,334 acres, as against 184,198 acres in the preceding year, .exhibiting a decrease of 24,874 acres, while the decrease in yield was nearly three million bushels, the actual figures being 2,960,359 bushels. The increased yield of oats, however, exceeded three million bushels, so that the total production of the colony was maintained, although the decrease in the yield of wheat was a serious fact; serious for the Government in the first place, as it largely affected the railway returns, and serious for the farmer, the middle man, the wage earning class, and every member of the community. The question of Protection had been very seriously discussed; it was a question entitled to their gravest consideration. South Australia, a colony very similarly situated to themselves, mainly dependent upon agricultural and pastoral pursuits, had adopted a- decided policy of Protection. The great difficulty of the question, the chief objection to it, was that it taxed the many for the benefit of the few. He thought it would be better than Protection to assist their industries by means of bonuses. By that system the assistance would be given by all, and would be legitimate and fair. Their customs tariff already was as high as ha considered prudent, and if wool and iron manufactories could spring up and thrive under present circumstances he thought other industries could be developed. One encouragement their industries had a right to expect—he alluded to more economical and better railway management. He need give only one instance of the shortsightedness of their railway tariff, by which the colonial settler was discouraged from manufacturing his wheat before exportation. The carriage on flour was considerably higher than the carriage on wheat, and the grower was consequently debarred from reaping the profit of manufacture in addition to the profit of production. Another question he would like to see brought to a satisfactory termination was that of Cheap Money. He could not see why some system should not be introduced by which farmers could borrow money at cheaper rates than they were at present paying. Such a system had been adopted in England, several other European countries, and India with perfect success, and he had discovered nothing impracticable or improper in its adaption to this country, unless it were regarded as improper to interfere with a matter which might be left to private enterprise. To his own mind the State was perfectly justified in a country where the prosperity of a community was so largely dependent upon the success of the cultivator, in going out of its way to help the farmers, and in other respects their Government had invaded the fields of private enterprise. They had undertaken life insurance, a business which interfered very seriously with private enterprise, and giving assistance to farmers would entail no greater departure from the usual functions of a Government than did the issue of a life policy.

Mr Walker concluded bis address, which occupied about an hour and a half in delivery, by thanking his audience for their patient hearing, and assuring them of his desire to serve them to the best of his ability. Two facetious questions having been asked by electors, and appropriately disposed of by Mr Walker, Mr J. C. MoWilliam proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Walker for his address, and of confidence in him as representative of the district.

Mr Dunoan Cameron iu seconding the motion, said he was confident all those present would admit that Mr Walker had done his utmost for the interests of the colony, and the benefit of the district. He (Mr Cameron) bad been particularly gratified by the remarks which had fallen from the Chairman in introducing Mr Walker. Mr Jaokson bad been, perhaps, Mr Walker’s most active opponent, but now, like many other honest “ Oppositionists,” admitted their member’s worth, and gave him that cordial support he so thoroughly deserved, Oa IreiiTg pqt (9 ttw wtiaol

was carried unanimously, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman, moved by Mr Walker, and carried by loud acclamation, concluded the proceedings.